Rise & Shine: NYC’s community schools show promise

With a new Democratic majority in the state Senate, lawmakers are confident New York could finally pass a DREAM act this year, opening up state tuition aid to undocumented students. The bill could benefit an estimated 4,500 graduates annually.

When it comes to education, Mayor Bill de Blasio stuck to familiar themes in his annual State of the City address. He touted pre-K and community schools, but didn't propose any new policies.

Enjoy the weekend!

— Christina Veiga, reporter

DREAM COME TRUE This could be the year New York lawmakers pass a DREAM act to allow undocumented students access to tuition aid. Chalkbeat

SAME OL’ Mayor Bill de Blasio has called education his top priority, but he did not lay out any new initiatives in his State of the City address. Chalkbeat

COMING SOON The mayor is speeding up the city’s expansion of pre-K for 3-year-olds. Wall Street Journal

PROGRESS So far, New York City’s massive investment in community schools is showing promise. New York Times

NEXT STOP De Blasio and schools Chancellor Richard Carranza will visit Brooklyn for the next stop on their parent listening tour. New York Daily News

SAFE DISTANCE Opinion: Legislation is needed to prohibit needle distributions near schools. New York Post

COURTSIDE A New York City teacher who was fired after stepping on black students’ backs for a lesson on slavery is planning on suing. New York Post

ALL’S CLEAR A Staten Island school was briefly evacuated due to problems with smoke. Staten Island Advance